TREPONEMAL ANTIBODIES IN NON-SYPHILITIC POSITIVE ANTI-NUCLEAR FACTOR SERA

[摘要] Two distinct antibodies appear to be responsible respectively for the simultaneous occurrence of anti-nuclear factor and modified FT A-200 (FTA-M) reactions from sera of patients having certain connective tissue disorders, notably lupus erythematosua. The positive modified FTA (FTA-M) reaction was reversible by absorption with Reiter''s treponemal sonicate, whole human tumor homogenate absorption and partially reversible with human tumor cytoplasmic residue. Human tumor cell nuclear sonicate either rendered no FTA absorption or resulted in increased fluorescent brilliance. The antibody responsible for the reversible modified FTA (FTA-MR) result is thought to be the same as a factor capable of reacting with tumor cell cytoplasm. Syphilitic antibodies cannot be absorbed from their respective sera by the methods described here. Use of the FTA modified reversible (FTA-MR) react!m as an additional screening test for auto-immune processes is advocated.